Machine for making tubs and the like



May 5, 1925.

A. M. WALSTRQM MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBS AND THE LIKE Filed March 17, 1924 .6 Shets-Sheed 1 Maia A. M. WAL$TROM MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBS AND THE LIKE Mays, 1925 O Ill-l I III. I II r o 0.0 0.0 o o 05 07 0 ouo oao o o 0L0 o ovaoavno 3A0 v p May 5, I925.

1,536,251 A. M. WALSTROM MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBS AND THE LIKE Filed March 17, 1924 6 Sheet-Sheet- 5 May 5, 1925.

1,536,251 A. M. WALSTROM MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBS AND THE LIKE Filed 'March 17, 1924 6 Sh'eetS -Sheeb 4 III-III! nlp IIIH Mayfi, 1925. 1,536,251

A. M. WALSTRQM MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBS AND THE LIKE Filed March 1'7, 1924 a sne ets-sht e f zz/ izio'z I /4Z a --I an s Patented May 5, 1925.

UNIT EID STATES P ENT O AXEL M. WALLSTROM, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PACKAGE MFG. COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0E ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBS .AND..TH=EL LIKE.

Application filed March 17, 192 Serial No. 699,620,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AXEI. M. TALSTROM, a citizen. of the. UnitedSt-ates, residing at ll/Iinneapolis-in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new. and useful- Improvements in Machines for lviaking Tubs and the like, of which the: fol-lowing is a specification.

The invention relates to machinery for the manufacture of tubs and like containers of stave construction, and more particularly to a machine for shaping or yointing the staves.

Tubs and similar containers are commonly tapered in form, the staves of which they are constructed usually being of widely variant widths. It will be obvious that the proper jointing of the assembled staves in a tapered container requires that the staves be shaped with their lateral edges converging toward the small end of the containers, and. that the angles of convergence of the edges of the staves vary proportionately to the width 0'15 the stave; also that the stave edges must be correctly bevelled so that their contacting surfaces effect a tight joint when assembled.

Ithas been the common practice in the past toiform the edges of tub and similar staves by applyin them manually to a plane cutter, in which operation the correctness of .the variable angular relations mentioned and the. amount of material wasted have been dependent upon the skill of the operator, with uncertain results.

In my copending application, Serial Number 666,280 I haveillustratcd and described a machine for shaping the lateral edges of stavcs of variable widths, which automatically positions and cuts each stave with the correct angle of convergence and bevel of its lateral edges propoitionate-tothe width of the stave.

The primary object of my present inven- .tion is. to provide in. such a machine improved automatic mechanisms for moving staves of variable Widths successively through the machine and securing them in variable lateral positions for successive cutting operations upon their respective lateral edges, and for establishingthe position of the staves for each cutting ope-ration so that the angular relation between their edges Will be proportionate to their Width. 7

Other objectsand advantages willbe apparent in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of my inver f tion which I haveselected for illustration in the accompanying drawings. It .will be... understood, however, that variouschanges in form, construction and arrangement may be made by thoseskilled in the art without. departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l is a plan View of the machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the 1113.; chine taken onthe plane of the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional eles vationtaken on. the plane ofthe line in Fig. 2. Fig. et is a fractional longitue dinal. sectional elevation taken. on the. plane of the line 4 -41 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is-a cross sectional elevation taken on the plane. of the line 5-5 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a fractional plan View, on an enlarged scale, of one of theforward stave positioning devices, and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a sectional detailed view of the sliding bars controlling the forward positioning devices. Fig. 9 is a cross sectional elevation of the upper structure of the machine taken on the plane of the line,

9-9 in Fig. 2 andomitting the cl1ain.oil-.

ing devices. F 1g. 10 is an enlarged plan view of one of the rearward stave positioning devices. Fig. 11 is a cross sectionalndeer tailed view of the sliding controlbars and. support for the latter. Figsali andl8. are

respectively a planview and sectional elee vation of a portion ofone of the conveying chains, illustrating the stave securingde vices incorporated therewith.

I will first state generally the ope ative arrangementof the. machine, hereinilluse. trated as adapted to the-jointing of staves for butter tubs. Rougl i cut staves of various, widths and approximate taper are stackedzin bunches at the forward end of the machine. where they are approximately alined with their direction of travel through ithe nia chine by pairs of swingingside guides. An endless chain travelling beneath thestaclc carries lugs adapted to engage thB.lO\VQl"1 moststaves and move them successively 1 013. ward.

As each stave moves out fronrthestaclc; it passes into the path of a laterally mow ing bar which engages. one. lateral edge of the stave and moves it against an oppositely positioned resistantly supported stop. The lateral bar and stop are so related through their operative supporting elements that the distance between them, as determined by the width of the stave, controls the limit of lateral movement of the bar in relation to the axis of forward movement of the stave, and so positions the latter that the first lateral cut will remove one half of the stock necessary to finish the stave with a correct taper between its edges. Thereupon, se-

curing devices carried by the chain engage the underside of the stave and lock it against further lateral movement.

The continuously forwardly moving stave is then carried into engagement with a revolving cutter which finishes the edge of the stave positioned by the lateral guide bar, the stave thereafter being released from the locking engagement of the securing devices.

Further progress of the stave carries it. between a second laterally moving guide bar and a stop, which shift the stave across the carrier chain and into position for operation upon the unfinished edge by a second revolving cutter. Here the stop is positively actuated to shift the stave against the resistantly supported bar, the latter being slidable upon an arcuate support so that the angular relation of the bar to the line of forward travel of the stave is such that when the stave, of whatever width, comes to rest in its lateral movement, the stave is positioned for cutting the opposite edge with the removal of the other half of the stock necessary to finish the stave with a correctly proportionate taper between its edges.

At the completion of this second shifting movement of the stave, the securing devices on the carrier chain again operate to lock the stave against lateral movement, and the continued forward movement carries it into engagement with the second cutter for the finishing cut of the remaining rough edge. Thereafter, the securing devices release the Stave and it is discharged from the machine.

More specifically described, with reference to the drawings, the operating mechanisms may be supported upon a frame of any suitable construction, that herein illustrated comprising pairs of spaced upright members 1, supported upon bottom rails 2, and carrying top rails 3. Top cross members 4 and intermediate cross members 5 complete the frame structure.

Mounted on the cross members 4, are two pairs of longitudinally extending spaced guide rails 6, each pair supporting one of two endless carriers 7. The carriers preferably are of link-belt or chain type, and are operatively supported at the ends of the guide rails by sprockets S and 9, the upper runs of the carrier chains passing between frame members 3.

the guide rails 6. The two front or receiving end sprockets 8 are mounted on a shaft 10 having suitable bearing supports 11 mounted on the frame members 3. The two rear or delivery end sprockets 9 are mounted on a shaft 19. having bearing supports 13 mounted on the other ends of the The shaft 12 carries a drive pulley 14- by which power is received for the operation of the chain carriers.

The gni le rails 6 are adapted to give lateral and under support between the sprockets 8 and 9 to the upper runs respectively of the carrier chains 7 in such position that the upper surfaces of the chains are substantiallv flush with the upper surfaces of the guide rails. Each of the guide rails 6 is provided with a lateral hannel in its upper inner surface forming a shoulder 15 (see Fig. 5) for the under support of the side members of the chains in parallel relation to the upper surface of the rails.

The carriers 7 are preferably of link-belt construction comprising outer side links 16 (see Figs. 12 and 13) with their ends overlapping inner side links 17 and carrying cross pins 18 on which the links are pivoted. Spacer sleeves 19 are positioned between the pairs of inner links, the sleeves preferably being provided with bushings 20 as bearings for the pivot pins.

At regular intervals in the carrier chains 7 there are located stave engaging dogs preferably comprising specially formed pairs of links 21 having extended portions projecting above the normal surface of the chain. A block 22 is rigidly secured between the extended portions of the special links and is provided with a curved knife edge 23 projecting forwardly over the carrier chain.

Located between each successive pair of stave engaging dogs are preferably two stave securing devices comprising a linkhaped member 2-1- of enlarged dimensions positioned between the side links of the chain. The member 24 is supported at its two ends upon the bushings 20 of two ad joining link connections, the spacer sleeves 19 being shortened to accommodate the member End openings 25 in the member 24: receive the bushings Q0, and are of substantially larger diameter than the bushings. permitting the member to be moved vertically between the laterally SllPPOlljing short spacer sleeve and the adjacent side link. The lower edge of the member extends substantially below the normal under surface of the carrier chain. The upper edge of the member 2 is provided with a pair of knife-like upward projections 26 which are substantially flush with the upper surface of the carrier chain when the member is in lowered position, but which rise above the chain when the member is lifted.

lat;

are of mutilated construction to accommodate the passage of the members, two teeth of each of the sprockets having oppositely lateral portions removed to receive the members.

As each stave securing member leaves the sprocket 8 at the beginning of the upper run of each carrier, the member drops by gravity into lowered position, effecting the withdrawal of the engaging projections 26 flush with the upper surface of the chain. Positioned beneath the upper run of each carrier and between the spaced guide rails 6 are two pairs of successively arranged cam bars 27 and 28, and 29 and 30, which respectively engage and lift the members 24: and simultaneously thrust upward the engaging projections, holding them in raised position while travelling the length of the respective bars. (See Figs. 2 and 5.) The cam bars are resiliently mounted, being similarly supported on cross bars 31, carried on compression springs 32, which latter are carried by bolts 83 suspended from the flanges of the guide rails 6.

Positioned above the upper run of each carrier is a longitudinally extending stave retaining bar 3d,.secured in spaced relation to the carrier chain by cross bars 85, adjustably supported on posts or bolts 86 mounted on the top rails 3.

A stave hopper or magazine is arranged over the front portion of each of the carriers. ward wall or stop 37 is mounted on the front sup iiorting cross bar over the forward end of each of the retaining bars 3%. (rice Figs. 3 and l.) Each of the latter is received in a block 38 secured to the bar 2353 and wall 8'? and extending laterally over the upper flanges of the rails 6. The lower surface of the block 38 and the upper surtaces of the rails 6 are preferably curved to the contour of a tub stave. The front face of the block may be under out, as

at 39, to assist in directing the staves between the retaining bar and the guide rails.

The upper flanges of the rails 6 form the under support for the staves in the hopper sections, and an end stop is provided in the cross bar all and spacer blocks 4-1, secured to the guide rails G and supported on the front ends of the top rails 3. Tlhe upper flanges of the rails b are removed for a short section beneath the forward wall 3'? to receive in each hopper a pair of vertically movable plates 41-2 pivotally su 'iported on the sides of the rails 6, as at 4-3. The plates 4-2 are shaped in conformity to the upper In the present illustration a forsurfacesof the rail flanges, and are normally swung upward at their forward ends against the block 38, being resiliently supported in that position by compression springs n bearing on the lower flanges of the guide rails.

Positioned on each side of the pairs of guide rails 6 within the hopper sections, are a pair of upright laterally swinging stave alining rods as, preferably inter-connected to form a yoke shaped member pivotally supported, as at a6, upon a pair of cross members 47 attached to the guide rails and top rails of the frame. The interconnecting portions 48 of the yokcs are preferably crank shaped, each pair being operatively connected by a pair of rods to with one of two vertically swinging levers 5O pivoted on the lower frame of the machine and in tor-connected by a treadle bar 51, the levers 50 being normally maintained in raised position by means of springs 52 suspended from brackets secured to the machine frame. Lateral pockets 53 ma be formed in the upper flanges of the rails (S to permit entry of the inward swii'iging rods 45.

()iling devices may be provided for the luliirication of the chains and stave securing devices comprising as herein illustrated 3) a roller 54- of oil carrying material resiliently bearing upon the under side of the chain, the adjacent inner faces of the rails 6 being cut away to permit full contact with the chain. The roller 54 is pivoted in the side walls of an oil pan 55 resiliently supported beneath the. rails 6, as by spring bolts 56 securing the upper flanges of the pan to the lower flanges of the rails.

The mechanism herein-before described comprises the means for propelling the stares through the machine and for supporting them curing the shaping of their lateral edges. In operation, an attendant, after stepping on the treadle 51 and opening the alining bars 45, places a flatly stacked bunch of rough stavesi in each of the hopper sections, as illustrated at A in Fig. 2. Upon releasing the rods 45, the latter close upon the stacks of staves and approximately alinc them with the direction of travel of the.carrierchains. The forward moving upper runs of the carriers, positioned between the spaced guide rails, opcrate in close proximity to the bottom staves oi each stack, and as the projecting dogs 22 reach the stack they successively engage the outer end of the bottomstave and push it from beneath the stack forwardly under the beveled block 38 into the space between the retaining bar and the upper flanges of the guide rails 6. v

The spring supported plates 42 operate to prevent any of the st-aves except the bottom one from passingou-t of the hopper section and jamming the machine, and also to prevent a-mming the bot-tom stave when filling an empty hopper at the moment one of the dogs is well advanced in the hopper. The plates 42 are held against the block 38 with sufiicient tension to prevent passage of the stave until the latter is properly engaged at its outer end and positively driven against the bevel 39, thereby depressing the plates 42 to the normal surface of the guide rails. The dogs 22 are separated in the carriers by a slightly greater distance than the length of a stave, and when first engaged each stave is thus loosely positioned between successive pairs of dogs, the curved knife like engaging edge of the latter facilitating the lateral shifting of the stave.

lVhile thus loosely moved forward, each stave is laterally engaged by means herein after specifically described, and one of its edges alined for finish cutting at the correct angle. Vhen so alined, the two stave securing members 24 underlying the stave are engaged simultaneonusly by the two cam bars 27 and 28, the members 24 being thereby lifted and their knife like projections 26 driven into the under side of the stave against the resistance of the retaining bar 34, their engagement being resiliently maintained by the spring mounting of the cam bars. The stave is thus locked against lateral displacement in correct position for the first shaping operation, which latter is accomplished while the members 24 travel the length of the respective cam bars 27 and 28. The movements of the stave thus far are illustrated in Fig. 1 at B and B Passing off the ends of the cam bars 27 and 28, the members 24 drop down and withdraw their engaging teeth from the stave, the latter being again loosely propelled by the dog 22. During the next stage of advancement the stave is laterally engaged by a second positioning means hereinafter de scribed, which alines the other edge of the stave for correct shaping, the latter position of the stave being illustrated at C in Fig. 1. 'lhereupon, the stave securing members 24 are engaged by the second pair of 'am bars 29 and 30, and are operated to again lock the stave in its new position for the second shaping out while the securingmembers travel over the bars 29 and 30. As the members drop off the ends of the second pair of cam bars, the stave is finally released in the position shown at C and loosely propelled out of the machine.

I will now describe the means for cutting the stave edges, and the lateral positioning means for successively alining the edges of the staves for the shaping cuts. The cutters are preferably of the rotary type, similarly constructed, and each comprisng a revolving head 57 in which are secured a plurality of radially extending knives 58. The heads 57 are respectively mounted on shafts 59 journaled in upper bearings 60 and lower bearings 61, suitably secured to the intermediate upper and lower cross frame members 4 and 5, and preferably braced for rigidity of alinement by integral bridge connections 62.

Associated with each of the cutter heads is a laterally swingable chip catcher 63 pivotally supported on a pin 64 mounted in the upper end of a lateral extension of the upper shaft bearing (30. The chip catchers are of box like construction with an upwardly inclined bottom wall adapted to receive the chips from the cutting knives and direct them upwardly into a suction conduit (not shown). The front face 65 of each chip catcher is adapted to resiliently contact the edge of the stave being cut, and is maintained in such contact by the spring 66 attached to a lug extending laterally from the pivot hearing.

The first pair of cutters are positioned laterally outward of the two carriers respectively, with the paths of the knives adjacent the upper runs of the carriers, the up per flanges of the adjacent guide rails 6 being cut away .siutliciently to accommodate the cutter heads and chip catchers. The shafts of the first pair are preferably inclined outwardly from vertical at an angle necessary to give the desired radial bevel to the finished edge of the stave. The second pair of cutters are positioned laterally in ward of the two carriers and similarly adjacent thereto with their shafts preferably in clined inwardly from vertical to give the correct bevel to the other edges of the staves.

Each of the cutter shafts carries a pulley 68, the front pair having belt connections 69 with drive pulleys 70, and the rear pair connected by belts 71 with drive pulleys 72, the drive pulleys and 72 being respectively mounted on shafts 73 and 74, journaled in bearings 75 suitably secured to the rear and front frame members respectively. The shaft 73 is extended at one end to carry a main drive pulley 76 adapted for belt connection with a source of power, and on the extension of its opposite end is a pulley 77 having a belt connection 78 with a pulley 79 mounted on the extended end of the shaft 74, thereby transmitting power to each of the revolving cutters.

The lateral positioning mechanisms are located in front respectively of the two pairs of cutters, each mechanism being operated by a pair of similarly arranged upright shafts. Each of the latter comprises a shaft 80 having an upper bearing support 81 mounted on the frame rail 8, and a lower bearing support 82 mounted on one of a pair of supporting rails 83 carried by the lower cross members 5. Each of the four shafts 80 carries at its upper end a revolving head plate 84 positioned above the opertwo horizontal shafts 88 having their bearings in brackets 89 mounted on the rails 83. The front and rear horizontal shafts 88 are operatively connected by a chain belt 90 operating over sprockets 91 mounted on the respective shafts. Another chain belt 92 o 'ieratively connects the sprocket 93011 the rear shaft 88 with the sprocket 94: on the carrier drive shaft 12. The gears and sprockets just mentioned are so dimensioned that the head plates 8% revolve at like speed,

those on one side of the machine in opposite direction to those on the other side, and with the crank pins 85 of the respective front and rear pairs of. head plates simultaneously croi sing their common diameters inwardly of the centers of the heads. Also the speed of the head plates is timed to one revolution during the passage of each successive stave carrying space in the carriers 7.

The first of the stave positioning mechanisms foralining the staves as they leave the hoppers is operatively supported for lateral motion by oppositely reciprocatory l'l'lBIl'lllGlS preferably comprising a pair of longitudinally reciprocatory parallel horizontal bars 95 and 95 positioned above and transversely of the carriers 7. The bars 95 and 95' are precisely similar in construction and function and are hereinafter referred to as the bars 95. Each of the bars 95 is rigidly secured at one end to one of a pair of blocks 96 pivotally mounted respectively on the crank pins85 carried by the front pairof revolving head plates 8d. The other end of each of the bars 95 is slidably secured to the other of the pair of blocks 96, as by bolts 9'? rigidly secured in the respective blocks and extending freely through slots 98 formed in the respective ends of the bars 95, the two ba s being laterally spaced by the interposed blocks 96.

Inwardly of the blocks 96, each of the bars 95 is provided with a rigidly secured support 99 Fig. 6) upon which is vertically pivoted an L-shaped member or bell crank 100, having one arm extending generally parallel to and. outwardly of the adjacent carrier 7, and the other arm overlying the bar on which it is pivoted. The laterally extending arm of each of the members 100 carries rigidly attached thereto oneend of a stave positioning bar or guide 101, positioned laterally ofand generally parallel to the adjacent carrier 7, and extending beneath the bars 95, the guide bar also having carrier utilized an additional guide in ,alining a pivotal support on the support 99 on the pivotal axis of the member 100. The front edges of the overlying arms of the members 100 are angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of the bars 95, and the movement of the member 100 on its pivot is limitedby a pair of spaced pins 100 fixed in the overlyingarm and extending downward on opposite sides of the bar 95in spaced relation thereto.

Each of the bars 95 also carries a sliding support102, located inwardly of the supports 99, and arranged for resistant move- "ment longitudinally of the respective bars.

Each support- 102 is mounted for guidance by a slot 103 111 its respective bar 95, and movement therealong 1s resistantly opposed by an oppositely positioned friction plate 10% supported by a bolt 105 secured in the sliding support 102 through the slot 103 and adjustably confining a compression spring against the outer surface of 'the friction plate 10 1. Each of the supports 102 carriesa stave positioning stop 106 (see'Fig. 5) extending below the bars 95 and laterally inward of the adjacent carrier 7, the stop 106 being disposed on the opposite side of the from the positioning. fibill' 101 mounted on the other one of the pair of bars 95. Each of the supports 102 also car ries a vertically pivoted roller 107 adapted for engagement with the angularly disposed edge of the overlying arm ofwthe adjacent member 100, functioning as a lateral stop for the latter and effective toswing'the arm' as the support 102 is moved along the bar 95. The two supports 102 are so positioned on the respective parallel bars-95 that, with the outward movement of the latter, the :sup-

Jorts interen 'a e and slide each other l i b 25 toward the free ends of their respective bars.

As herein illustrated the front faceo65 of each of the front pair of chip catchers 63 is the staves, serving as a lateral guide stop for the forward end of the approaching stave. To prevent the chip catchers from being swung outwardly by contact witlnthe staves, and their front faces 65 from being forced out of aliuement withthe cutting-tangent of the cutter blades while the staves are-being laterally positioned, an arm 108 is mounted on the outer portion of each chip catcher, and extending adjacent thewproximate revolving head plate 84: in position to belaterally engaged by the lower end portion. ofzthe pin 85 when the latter is iii-innermost position in the revolution of the head plate,

swinging of the chip catcher when so engaged, but otherwise permitting the chip catcher to recede with the advance of the stave during the cutting operation. 1 The bar 108 is preferably adjustably mounted thereby limiting or preventing the outward on the chip catcher, having a pivotal end support and a lateral adjusting bolt 109 provided with lock nuts to secure the bar in adjusted position.

In its operation upon the staves, the stave positioning mechanism just described is so located and operatively timed in relation to the carriers, that the bars 101 are in their outer positions and the stops 106 are in their inner positions as the successive staves emerge from the hopper sections loosely propelled by the carriers 7 and pass between the positioning members. \Vhen an advancing stave on one of the carriers reaches the approximate position illustrated at D in Fig. 6, the pins 85 carried by the revolving heads 84 are moving inwardly, and imparting positive movement in opposite directions to the reciprocatory bars 95, and thereby positively moving the two stave positioning bars 101 inwardly toward the respective carriers with a forward swing in the direction of movement of the staves as the bars 101 approach the carrier (see representation in broken lines in Fig. 6). The adjacent positioning bar 101, carried by one of the bars 95, engages the advancing stave and forces the latter inwardly across the carrier 7. Simultaneously the adjacent positioning stop 106, carried by the other of the bars 95, is moving oppositely to the bar 101, and engages the opposite side of the interpositioned stave, whereupon the positively mounted bar 101 forces the slidably mounted stop 106 reversely on its carrying bar, but against sufficient frictional resistance to firmly hold the stave between the two guides.

At the completion of the inward movement of the bar 101 the forward end of the advancing stave has reached the face 65 of the adjacent chip breaker, which at that moment is locked in position by engagement of the arm 108 with the under portion of the pin 85 and forms a rigid forward positioning guide; the stop 106 has approached the bar 101 to the limit of the width'of the interposed stave, securing the rearward portion of the stave in contact with the bar 101; and the roller 107, moving coincidently with the stop 106, has passed along the angularly disposed edge of the overlying arm of the guTde bar supporting member 100 for a distance controlled by the width of the stave, thereby swinging the bar 101 and rear portion of the stave further inward in the case of a narrow stave than in the case of a wide stave.

The last mentioned swinging movement of the bar 101 is directly proportionate to the width of the stave, the operative parts being effective as described to aline the stave for the first shaping out, with an equal distribution on each side of the stave of the stock to be removed to result in the correct taper of the stave, and with the least waste of material. lVhen so positioned, the stave securing devices on the carrier operate as previously described to engage and lock the stave in alined position, whereupon the pins 85 and bars 95, begin their outward movement in the revolution of the heads 84, withdrawing the guide bar 101 and stop 106 from engagement with the stave, the latter advancing through the zone of the adjacent cutter and receiving its first finishing cut on the alined edge.

The second of the stave positioning mechanism operates to aline the other edges of the stares for the second finishing cut, and is located in front of the rearward pair of cutters. The second mechanism is also operatively supported upon a pair of oppositely reciprocatory parallel horizontal bars 110 and 110 which are precisely similar in construction and function and hereinafter referred to as the bars 110. Each of the bars 110 is rigidly secured at one end to one of a pair of blocks 111 pivotally mounted respectively on the crank pins 85 carried by the rear pair of revolving head plates 84. The other end of each of the bars 110 is slidably secured to the other of the pair of blocks 111, as by a bolt 112 rigidly secured in the respective block 111 and extending freely through a slot 113 formed in the adjacent free end of the other bar 95, the two bars being laterally spaced by the interposed block 111.

Inwardly of the blocks 111, each of the bars 110 carries a rigidly secured support 114, of which the upper portion is a horr zontal rail arcuately formed on a radius approximately equal in length to an element of a cone of which the finished tub to be constructed from the tapered staves may be considered as a truncated base portion, the arcuate rail being substantially perpendicular to the cutting tangent of the associated cutter when the bar 110 is in innermost position. As illustrated in Fig. 10, the support 114, therein shown complete, is secured to the bar 110 by bolts 115, the other support 114 being similarly secured to the bar 110 Slidably mounted on each of the supports 114- is an arcuately channelled member 116 embracing the arcuate rail portion of the support and having a pair of lateral dcpending arms 117 carrying a rigidly attached stave positioning bar 118 positioned laterally outward of the adjacent carrier 7. The bar 118 is mounted in radial relation to the arcuate channel in its supporting member 116. Frictional resistance to the movement of the member 116 on the support 114: is effected by means of a bolt 119 secured in the support 11st and extending upwardly through a slot 120 in the member 116. A washer 121 bears upon the upper surface of the member 116, and is frictionally tenspectivecarrying bars 110 is limited preferably by a pair of fixed posts 122 secured respectively in the side rails 3 in the path oi the bars 118.

Each of the bars 110 also carries a rigidly secured support 113,10Cfit6d inwardly of the supports 114, and on which is rigidly mounted-a stave positioning stop 124 (see Fig. 9)

extending below the bars 110 and laterally inward of the adjacentcarrier 7, the stop 124 beingdisposed on the opposite side of the carrier from the positioning bar 118 mounted on the other one of the pair of bars 110.

In operation, the lastly described stave positioning mechanism operates upon the staves after the first shaping cut has been completed andthe carrier stave-securing devices have released the staves in loose relation to the carrier chain. At this stage the staves are advancing from the positions illustrated-at B in Fig. 1. As the staves move forward, the pins carried by the rear pair 0f revolving heads84 move outi'vardly carrying outwardly with'them in opposite directions the two bars 110 and their slidably supported engage the posts 12 2, whereupon the continued outward movement of the bars 110 slides the member 116 relatively inward on its ai'cuate support 114. Bythe same movement of the bars 110, the rigidly supported stave positioning stops 124 are carried inwardly. in relation'to the respective carriers with which they are associated. The stave engaging parts are thus separated while the advancing staves on the respective carriers pass between them.

lVith the reverse movements of the bars 110 by the inward rotative travel of the pins 85, the stave positioning members close in towardtheir respective carriers, and as they approach the stavesthe parts aremoving with a torward swing in the direction of the movement of the staves.

Describing the further operation as to one of the carriers, the rigidly support 1 ed positioning stop 124 engages the un- Ilinis'hed'edge ot the advancing loosely carried stave and forces it laterally outward acrossthe carrier chain. Theinwardly-movring :positioningcguide bar 118 engages the 01313081116 finished edge ofthe stave, and is resistan'tly pushed outward on its arcuate slide rail support with the further positive movementof the stop-124 until the latter comes torest adjacent the cutting tangent ot the associated cutter head. Atthat moment, the stave is firmly embraced between the one-point contacting stop 124 and the elongated guide bar 118,the latter eil'ecting full length contact with the finished edge of the stave. The angular relation of the bar 118 to the axis of forward movement of the stave is determined by the distance which the bar has been pushed outwardly on its arcuate support. That distance is controlled by the width of the stave, and the latter, whether narrow or wide, is thereby given the requisite lateral turning move ment in its passage across the carrier to finally position its remaining rough edge for a linish out along a line in greater or less angular relation to the finished edge proportionate to the width of the stave, thereby accomplishing the correct taper between the finished edges 01 each stave oi whatever width. Thereupon, the stave securing devices of the carrier again operate to lock the stave in its new position, and it is car ried forward to the second cutter for its of staves, a pairot oppositely reciprocatory bars-positioned transversely of the path of said staves, operating connections between said carrier and said bars causing a cycle of movements of said bars coincidently with the passageof each stave, a stave positioning member supported on one of said bars, and another stave positioning member sup ported on the other of said bars, said members being positioned on opposite sides of the path of said staves and adapted to simultaneously engage the lateral edges of said staves, one of said members having a fixed support on its said bar and thereby operable to move a passing stave to a predetern'iined lateral position, and the other of said members being supported for resisted longitudinal movement along its said bar.

2. In apparatus 01 the class described, a carrier for moving a seriesof staves at regularly spaced intervals, a pair of oppositely rotatable c -anks positioned on opposite sides of said carrier, said cranks having operating connections with said carrier for synchronizing the revolutions of said cranks with the successive movement of said staves, a reciprocatory bar operativcly supported on each of said cranks, said bars extending: transversely of said Oti11'l1',8t11l means carried by said bars for laterally positioning the staves on said carrier.

In apparatus of the class described, a

carrier for moving a successive series of staves, a pair of upright shafts positioned on opposite sides of said carrier and rotatable in opposite directions in synchronism with the passage of successive staves, a crank on each of said shafts, a bearing block carried by each of said cranks, a pair of bars extending transversely of said carrier, each of said bars being oppositely secured respectively to one of said bearing blocks and having a slidable connection with the other of said blocks, and means carried by said bars for laterally positioning the staves on said carrier.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a car 'ier for moving staves in regular succession, a pair of bars operatively positioned transversely of said carrier, said bars being reciprocally operable in limited opposite directions in cycles coincident with the pas sage of successive staves, a stave engaging member positioned at one side of said car rier and having a longitudinally slidable support on one of said bars, means for resisting the sliding movement of said member on said bar, a second stave engaging member positioned on the other side of said carrier and having a pivotal support in fixed relation to the other of said bars, said second member extending laterally from said bars in approximately parallel relation to said carrier, and means controlled by the position of said first stave engaging member for swinging the outer end of said second stave engaging member a distance proportionate to the width of a stave engaged between said members.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a carrier for moving staves in regular succession, a pair of bars operatively positioned transversely of said carrier, said bars being reciprocally operable in opposite directions in cycles coincident with the passage of successive staves, a stave engaging member p0 sitioned at one side of said carrier and having a longitudinally slidable support on one of said bars, means for resisting the sliding movement of said member on said bar, a second stave engaging member positioned on the other side of said carrier and having a pivotal support in fixed relation to the other of said bars, said second member extending laterally from said bars in approximately parallel relation to said carrier, a bell-crank fixedly attached to said second member and having an arm extending adjacent to said first stave engaging member in angular relation to the path of sliding move ment of said first member, and an element carried by said first member adapted to engage said arm with the inward movement of said bars and swing the outer end of said second stave engaging member a distance proportionate to the width of a stave engaged between said members.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a carrier for moving a succession of staves, a pair of reciproeatory bars positioned trans versely of said carrier and operable in opposite direction, a stationary guide laterally adjacent to said carrier and laterally spat-ed from the paths of said bars, a support fixed on one of said bars, a stave engaging member pivoted on said support and extending laterally from said bars oppositely to said stationary guide, a resistantly slidable support mounted on the other of said bars, a second stave engaging member rigidly mounted on said slidable support, said engaging members being adapted to oppositely engage the lateral edges of a passing stave with the inward movement oi said bars, said stave being laterally shifted by said first mentioned engaging member to an approximately predetermined position with one end in abutment with said stationary guide, a lever fixedly attached to said first mentioned member and extending in angular relation to the path of movement of said slidable sup port, a rigidly mounted element on said slidable, support adapted to laterally engage said lever and swing the outer end ot said first mentioned member proportionately to the distance between said members, thereby shifting the other end oi said stave in rela tion to said stationary guide proportionately to the width of said stave.

7. In apparatus of the class described. in combination, a guide for laterally positioning one end of a moving stave, said guide having a pivoted support swingable away from said stave, a reciprocatory bar positioned transversely of the path of said stave, a stave engaging member carried by said bar for laterally positioning the other end oi said stave, means for laterally moving a stave into abutment with said guide and said stave engaging member, a revoluble head, a crank pin on said head operativel connected to said bar, and an arm on said guide support extending tangentially to the path of said crank pin, said pin engaging said arm at the innermost position. ot said bar and thereby preventing movement of said swingable support during such engagement.

8. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a stationary guide positioned for lateral abutment by one end of a stave, a pivoted stave engaging member extending laterally of said stave and having its free end positioned for lateral abutment by the other end of said stave, a second stave engaging member positioned on the opposite side ot said stave and operable to force said stave into contact with said guide and said first mentioned member, a lever having fixed relation to said first mentioned member and extending in angular relation to the path of movement of said second mentioned member,

and means on said second member adapted to engage said lever whereby said first mentioned stave engaging member is swung inwardly upon said stave to an extent proportionate to the width of said stave.

, 9. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a carrier for moving a succession of staves, a pair of reciprocatory bars positioned. transversely of said carrier, a stave positioning member mounted on one of said bars adapted to engage one side of said staves, a second stave positioning member mounted on the other side of said bars adapted to engage the opposite side of said staves, a pair of revoluble heads positioned on opposite sides of said carrier and revolving in a plane parallel to the path of said staves, and a crank pin in each of said heads operatively connected to one or said bars respectively, said heads being arranged to rotate in opposite directions with their inner peripheries moving in the direction of the movement of said staves, whereby said stave positioning members move in like direction with said staves while engaged therewith.

10. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a pair of spaced parallel carriers for moving series of successive staves, a pair of oppositely moving reciproeatory bars positioned transversely of said carriers, a pair of stave positioning members mounted respectively on said bars laterally outward of said carriers, each of said members being adapted to engage the outer lateral edge of a passing stave on the respectively adjacent carrier and move said stave laterally, a second pair of stave positioning men bers mounted respectively on said bars between said carriers and adapted to engage the inner lateral edge of a passing stave on the respectively adjacent carrier in opposition to said first mentioned members, said second mentioned members bing resistantly slidable longitudinally of said bars and ar 'anged to inter-engage with the inward movement of said bars for the repositioning of said members thereon.

11. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a carrier for moving staves in regular succession, a pair of reciprocatory bars operatively supported transversely of said carrier, said bars being operable in opposite directions in cycles coincident With the passage of successive staves on said carrier, a support rigidly mounted on one of said bars having an arcuate shaped portion disposed transversely of said carrier, a member slidably mounted on the arcuate portion of said support, a stave positioning bar rigidly secured to said slidable member and disposed laterally of said carrier in position to engage one lateral edge of a passing stave, means for resisting the sliding movement of said member on said support, and a stave positioning element rigidly mounted on the other of said bars and extending on the opposite side of said carrier in position to engage the opposite lateral edge of a passing stave, said latter element being positively actuated to move said stave across said carrier to a predetermined position, said arcuately slidable positioning bar having simultaneous engagement with said stave and controlling its final position in an angular relation to the axis of said carrier variably proportionate to the Width of said stave.

12. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a. carrier for moving a successive series of staves, a pair of oppositely reciprocatory bars positioned transversely of said carrier, a support rigidly mounted on one of said bars having a curved slide rail, a member resistantly slidable on said curved rail, a stave positioning bar rigidly mounted on said slidable member and disposed at one side of said carrier for engagement with a substantial portion of one lateral edge of a passing stave, and a stave positioning element rigidly mounted on the other of said bars and disposed on the opposite side of said carrier in position to engage the opposite lateral edge of a stave, said latter element being operable to positively move said stave to a predetermined limit against the resistantly reversible opposite engagement of said positioning bar, said bar and slidable member being reversely moved thereby along said curved rail in variable angular relation to the longitudinal axis of said carrier proportionate to the width of said stave.

13. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, an arcuately formed rail, a stave positioning bar having a slidable support on said arcuate rail and positioned for abutment by one side of a stave, and a stave engaging element disposed on the opposite side of said stave operable to move said stave laterally against said positioning bar to a predetermined position, the movement of said positioning bar on its arcuate support thereby turning said stave in its lateral movement to an angular degree proportionate to the Width of said stave.

In witness whereof I have hereunto attached my signature.

AXEL M. lVALSTROM. 

